It is indisputable that ‘Percy Pig’ has built up substantial goodwill and reputation in the UK since M&S launched the sweet in 1992. M&S’s arguments centre on Swizzels’ Pig Mugs gums, being both confusingly similar to Percy, or where the public can distinguish the two products, whether Swizzels are benefiting from the clear link generated between the two. Last year, it started legal action against Aldi over its Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake, which it claimed was similar infringed its trademark for its famous Colin the Caterpillar. Meanwhile, Swizzels had argued that the trademark registered by M&S was such poor quality that the face “looks more like a teddy bear than a pig”. In its legal submission, M&S cited an example of a customer who loved the fruit gums so much they had got a tattoo of Percy’s face.

The brand has been a key part of M&S’s efforts to reinvent itself as a family food retailer, featuring in its Christmas ads and a plethora of different products from pyjamas to cupcakes as well as the original confectionery. For the buttercream, beat together the butter, dessert sauce, icing sugar and milk until smooth. Gradually add drops of pink or red food colouring, mixing after each addition, until the buttercream is as pink as Percy. Fancy the sweetest slice of Percy Pig flavour? Try my delicious giant cookie idea, which stars a biscuit base, Percy Pig dessert sauce, buttercream and our multicoloured Party Percys. A spokesperson for M&S stated: “Marks & Spencer Plc and Swizzels Matlow Limited confirm that they have agreed to settle on confidential terms the trademark dispute concerning the appearance of Swizzels Matlow’s ‘Pigs Mugs’ sweets and have reached an amicable resolution whereby Swizzels has agreed to change the design of its product.” Spread the buttercream evenly onto the fully cooled cookie base, leaving some space around the edge, then drizzle the pizza with Percy Pig dessert sauce before decorating with mini marshmallows, Party Percy sweets and jazzie sprinkles.

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Whip 450ml cream until stiff peaks have formed. Fold in 150g Percy Pig dessert sauce and a few drops of pink food colouring. Lightly crush 150g fresh raspberries with a fork, then fold these through. Lawyers for the high street chain had claimed that the two sweets’ designs were so similar that its customers might have bought the wrong item in error. Whisk in pink or red food colouring, if using– a few drops should be all that is required to give a light pink colour – then fold through the mini marshmallows and white chocolate chunks. Whisk together 500ml custard, 100g Percy Pig dessert sauce and a few drops of pink food colouring, then spoon into the trifle bowl, smoothing on top.

Preheat oven to 175°C/150°C fan/gas mark 3. Line a pizza pan or,if you want a deeper dish pizza, an 8- or 9-inch cake tin with greaseproof paper. Marks & Spencer has agreed to end a dispute with the confectionery company Swizzels after accusing it of copying its Percy Pig sweets. A spokesman for M&S said: “M&S has a proud history as a leading innovator and for almost 140 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards. The case is reminiscent of the high-profile legal battle that pitted M&S against Aldi, in which the upscale grocer sued the German discounter for “ripping off” its popular birthday cake Colin the Caterpillar. The high street retailer said it had reached an “amicable solution” with Swizzels, but refused to provide further details of the settlement.An M&S spokesman said: “M&S has a proud history as a leading British innovator and for over 136 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards. Aldi’s own Cuthbert the Caterpillar escaped legal wrath after the two parties reached a deal earlier this year, allowing it to continue trading, albeit with a slightly different appearance. In their legal submission, an example was used of a customer who loved the sweets so much they had a tattoo of Percy’s face.

The case has been filed at the High Court earlier this week, with official papers showing M&S is after damages as well as an injuction against Swizzels to stop it from selling Pigs Mugs. Lawyers even submitted a photo of a customer who had a Percy Pig tattoo as evidence of its cult following, the newspaper reported. Whisk in the egg and the egg yolk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed until fully incorporated. Add the Percy Pig dessert sauce and whisk. Responding to the Swizzels victory, an M&S spokesperson said: “M&S has a proud history as a leading innovator and for almost 140 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards.Pour the mix onto the pizza pan or into the lined tin and level the top.Bake for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven andleave to cool. The spokesperson added: “M&S has a proud history as a leading innovator and for almost 140 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards,” the spokesperson added.

Last month, The Grocer reported that copycat products were ”artificially hiking prices in cost of living crisis”, according to evidence sent to Trading Standards and the Competition & Markets Authority by the British Brands Group.For the base, in a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugarwith an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Whisk the remaining cream until soft peaks have formed. Spoon over the custard, using a spatula to create soft peaks. Percy is not immune to controversy, however, causing a stir in 2019 when M&S changed the recipe to remove gelatine and make him vegetarian, prompting complaints of a deterioration in flavour. M&S has a proud history as a leading British innovator and for over 136 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed alongside trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards,” anM&S spokesman said. The retailer believes Swizzels’ Pigs Mugs treats are “highly similar” to Percy and say that confused customers could buy the wrong ones.